Malta announces 14 million investment for 40 new electric buses and autonomous shuttle pilot - Sustainable Bus

Malta announced a €14 million investment to purchase 40 new electric buses for the Malta Public Transport fleet under the “Malta in Motion” mobility strategy. The procurement more than doubles the operator’s electric fleet and supports a goal of deploying a fully electric public transport fleet on the island of Gozo. The announcement also included a six-month pilot project using an autonomous electric shuttle to be tested in Malta and Gozo. The government linked the bus rollout to broader investments in public transport, infrastructure modernization, innovative mobility technologies, and sustainable transport solutions. New routes, service extensions, and increased frequencies are planned to begin operating soon. Transport Minister Chris Bonett framed the investment as incremental progress toward cleaner, modern, sustainable mobility.

"Malta has announced a €14 million investment to add 40 new electric buses to the Malta Public Transport fleet as part of the government's "Malta in Motion" mobility strategy. The investment, announced by the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, will more than double the size of the operator's electric fleet and supports the government's target of deploying a fully electric public transport fleet on the island of Gozo."

"The announcement was accompanied by the launch of a pilot project involving an autonomous electric shuttle, to be tested in Malta and Gozo over a six-month period. Both the supplier of the vehicles and the brand Malta strengthens electric bus rollout under "Malta in Motion" According to the Maltese government, the procurement of the 40 electric buses forms part of the broader "Malta in Motion" programme, which includes investments in public transport, infrastructure modernisation, innovative mobility technologies and sustainable transport solutions."

"The Ministry stated that the new buses will support the ongoing transition towards a "more modern, sustainable and efficient" mobility system. Alongside the vehicle investment, the government also announced new public transport routes, extensions of existing services and frequency increases that are due to enter into operation in the coming days. Transport Minister Chris Bonett said the investment represents a further step in the implementation of the national mobility strategy."

""This is not a plan or a presentation on paper, but a vision that is being built step by step, investment after investment. Today we are sending another clear message about the direction the country is taking, towards cleaner, more modern and more sustainable mobility." Felipe Cosmen, Chairman of Malta Public Transport, "What we are presenting today is not only the introduction of new buses, but another step in a long journey of modernising public transport"

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